Research Tittle The Application of Coconut Fiber as Thermal Insulation in
Residential Homes (Coconut Fiber)
Proponent Richmond Charles D. Septimo
Research Advisor Mrs. Maria Teresa F. Beran
School/Address Antonio A. Maceda Integrated School
A. Rationale As energy prices and heat rise the need for an alternative
cooling element is also on the rise. I propose using
coconut fiber as an insulation material to reduce energy
needs for cooling, other type of insulation materials (Fiber
Glass, Mineral wool, and Plastic Fibers) are expensive and
environmentally harmful; on the other hand coconut fiber
used as an insulation material is inexpensive as it is an
agricultural byproduct it is also sustainable which are
valuable traits for a tropical developing country with a
humid climate like the Philippines.
B. Research This project aims to answer the following questions:
Questions
1. What are the thermal insulation properties of
coconut fiber compared to conventional materials
like fiberglass or mineral wool?
2. How much does coconut fiber reduce temperature?
3. How could coconut fiber as insulation material be of
use?
Hypothesis H 0 Null Hypothesis
Coconut fiber will perform worse as an insulation material
than conventional insulation material and pose a fire risk
due to its flammable nature.
H 1 Alternative Hypothesis
Coconut fiber insulation will provide thermal resistance
comparable to or better than conventional synthetic
insulation materials while being more cost-effective and
environmentally sustainable.
Expected Coconut fiber will exhibit thermal insulation properties
Outcomes comparable to conventional insulation materials, such as
fiberglass or foam and be cheaper and more
environmentally friendly.
C. Procedure In this study we will gather coconut fiber from local
sources and process it, we shall use two shoeboxes as
residential models one lined with coconut fiber and one
without, measuring them every 5 minutes for 30 minutes
Risk and Safety The study poses minimal risks,organic waste will be
disposed of responsibly, following environmental
guidelines. All activities will follow standard safety
protocols to ensure a secure and responsible research
process.
D. Data Analysis Thermal conductivity and r value of coconut fiber will be
collected and compared to conventional insulation
material. All data will be processed using tools like
Microsoft Excel.
Bibliography Asim, M., Paridah, M. T., Saba, N., Jawaid, M., Alothman, O.
Y., Nasir, M., & Sultan, M. T. H. (2018). Thermal, physical,
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Mwaikambo, L. Y., & Ansell, M. P. (2022). Recent
developments on natural fibers for sustainable insulation
applications. Journal of Renewable Materials.
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Asdrubali, F., D’Alessandro, F., & Schiavoni, S. (2015). A
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U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Types of insulation.
Energy Saver. U.S. Department of Energy.
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/types-insulation
Figueiredo, A., Figueiredo, I., Silva, A., & Garcia, J. (2020).
Determination and review of physical and mechanical
properties of raw and treated coconut fibers for their
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https://doi.org/10.3390/fib8060037
